You change your mind, like a girl changes clothes, yeah you PMS like a bitch...

...I would know.


Good Afternoon, yet again.

I've started volunteering at Ten Thousand Villages (Website). They just opened a store in the downtown and I absolutely am in love with the products and their mission. In a brief little couple of sentences, Ten Thousand Villages' products are all Fair Trade. They are bought from artisans in developing countries around the world. There are no middle men. The artisans/producers are paid a "fair wage" for their products. A "fair wage" being enough money to support their education, food, housing, health care, etc. The are paid usually around half of the cost when the orders are made, giving the artisans enough money to buy materials if need be, and then the rest of the money is paid when the product is shipped. A lot of the products are made by artisan groups, organizations that have formed to create employment for people. A lot of the artisans are women, due to their lack of status, respect, or responsibilities in their home country.

So please, take a couple minutes to browse their website, even. It's a beautiful cause.

On another note: Kittens are one the most entertaining things I have had the privilege to experience. He climbs everything. Has no fear of our 180 lbs Newfoundland dog who drools everywhere. He chases things. Gets up on the kitchen counters. Sleeps for a bit and then goes and tires himself out again. His vast amount of curiosity is probably what I find most intriguing. He's constantly learning every day, without any reservations.

As we get older I think we start to lose this curiosity. We stop asking questions about why things are a certain way and we simply acknowledge it as part of our daily lives. We don't always consider the reasons behind events or situations, we just accept them. If we could maintain some amount of curiosity, of childhood wonder, even, could that bring more joy to our lives? If we had a goal to do something different, try something unfamiliar, learn a new word, every day, would that enhance our daily life? I think that's a challenge I'm willing to accept. Are you?

The joy of making an effort to spend time with someone should be a cherished creature held dear; when one doesn't always see the beauty of said creature nor appreciate it the way you do, the disappointed feeling like someone just called your baby fugly seems to come crashing down. -L.E.Missen

A woman needs a man Like a fish needs a bicycle When you're tryin' to throw your arms...

...around the world.

Good Afternoon.

I haven't been on my computer much, lately, after writing my last blog. I've been reading, cleaning, sleeping and going out and about. I've also gotten a kitten, so he takes up some of my time. :)

I always find it interesting how we don't realize how much something means to us until it is gone. If we can't comprehend the importance of something until it is too late, though, then how do we fully appreciate it? If we don't know how we truly feel, then how are we able to express our honest emotions? Because once it's gone, and we notice the immensity that it impacted us, it's hard to know what to do next because one cannot alter the past. (Even if you're in the Time Traveler's Wife, which I saw Tuesday night)

Whether it be losses such as a favourite piece of jewelry, or childhood toy, or notebook. Or only one sock, so that you never know where the mate has gone. Or losses such as the death of someone you knew, a break-up, or realizing your childhood is over, with the responsibilities you have, or no longer having a job, or just not having enough time to pursue a hobby you once loved. Regardless of what it is you no longer possess, we always seem to be screwed over by not realizing how much influence or happiness these things bring us, especially if we've fallen into taking things for granted.

So, one should find a way to appreciate everything they have in their lives to its full potential. Nothing has a comparable pang of mingled uncontent emotions than missing something and not being able to resolve it. Even if you don't know to what extent something is important to you, because you haven't had the unfortunate experience of losing it, at least try and realize that it does give you a positive feeling and not to forget about it. Once it's gone, it's unlikely you'll ever get it back.

Live in the moments. Indulge in Life's simple pleasures. Find the things that make you happy. And don't let them go.

"Words that had meaning float through my mind; the feelings from those times are unrelenting, but with effort I force them away, and now they are like the stale pretzels that I consume: for they are neither pleasing nor off putting, and I continue to indulge in them, even when they bring me no pleasure." -L.E.Missen

Here comes the rain again Falling on my head like a memory Falling on my head like a new emotion I want to walk in the open wind...

I want to talk like lovers do...


No one else seems to be awake in my house, yet, and it's 11:28am. Weird.

I started reading Dead Until Dark, the first book of the Sookie Stackhouse series. HBO's True Blood is based off of it. So far it's really enjoyable. I'll write about it when I finish it. ...I just laughed at that myself. But, I will actually read this one from cover to cover. Just you see...

We rely so heavily upon technology these days.

When my cell phone can't get service and I wave it about my basement until my texts send, I find this normal. And then I start to think about it. Everyone wants to be in touch with everyone as quickly and effeciently as possible. Writing a letter is basically dead. Telephoning someone is frowned upon by my own peer group. E-mail is also not always the best means of communication in case someone doesn't check their inbox in time. Instant messaging works if you have a program. But you don't always want to be on your computer to access it. Facebook messaging only works because are addicted to that website. Twitter is getting there. Texting is effective, but you need service and hope that the other person has their phone on them and turned on.

It makes sense for us (as a society) to have this need to be in contact with people almost instantly and all of the time. We're busy and want to keep everyone informed. Schedules get changed so people need to be contacted. Or for sending files instead of having to fax them. There are tons of benefits that we experience daily because we use most (if not all) of these methods.

But what are the consequences?

School system wise, spelling is effected, possibly oral communication, as well. And most definitely handwriting/cursive, is in a decline. It's obsolete for me, at least. My penmanship was never the best, but it's horrid, now. Word processors have taken over and they have 'spell check', too.

IF the technology we are using malfunctions/starts a war against us/stops working in general, what are we going to do? How are we going to function? Obviously we'll adapt...eventually. The widescale effect of that is frightening, though. Contact with the other side of the world? Gone. Access to information on the internet always at your fingertips? Finito. Being able to work from home? Laughable. Knowing what movies are playing at your local theatre while on your smart phone? Ha ha ha. No.

We rely so heavily upon these modern advances. Especially the internet. I mean, it's the coolest thing in the world, it has answers to everything, and access to all of our favourite social networking sites and torrents!

But...

Kids used to go outside and play until the street lights came on. They didn't spend their free time in front of the bright screens of a computer or a television. On rainy days, such as today, you'd sit and colour, paint or write...

As I was finished that last sentence, the hydro went out at my house.
How convenient? So I drew some pictures, and read a little. And now that it's back on, I thought I should hit "publish post". :)

You blink when you breathe And you breathe when you lie...

...You blink when you lie...


My apologies for not blogging. In AGES!

Long story short for my summer thus far: Staying up late. Sleeping in late. Taking photos. Hanging out with friends. Video gaming. Going to the movies. Reading, occasionally. Writing when I get a chance. Still cleaning my room (which is pretty much done, now). Guitar lessons. Young driver's lessons. Dance, when I find time.

My gentleman companion and I have watched every Pixar movie but Cars and Wall-e, together. And we'll need to see Up! when it comes out.

Those movies are ingenious. Visually appealing with stories that play to all audiences. Toy Story is beautiful. The first movie I saw in theatres. :) And even Toy Story 2 is a wonderful piece of work. The movies' plot lines just sucker one in and have such emotional bonds that you find yourself cheering along Marlin in Finding Nemo, or making comments like Edna in the Incredibles. Or still find yourself quoting Buzz Lightyear at age 17. Being able to watch a movie that has no dialogue for at least half of it, Wall-e, is a fabulous experience to be exposed to when everything around us is so busy and fast paced these days in society. The simplicity is compelling. The concept of Rataouille is amusing, and it's executed really well. The characterization in all of the films are impeccable and the voice actors always do a stunning job.

The balance between comedy, suspense and emotions in Monsters Inc. is one that I find hard to compare with others. Where as Cars is not my favourite of Pixar's work, the visual appeal of it is phenomenal. Bug's Life, as well, brings us into a world that we ourselves cannot visit. THAT is what makes Pixar's movies work. They create films based around things that we ourselves in 'life' cannot experience, BUT can believe. Toys coming to life when we aren't around, bugs and their daily operations, monsters that hide in our closests, fish that frolic through the ocean, people who seem like regular people but have super powers, rats that like to cook and live in kitchens, robots that help the Earth once we as a population have destroyed it, cars that can talk and communicate, and a man that travels to a far distant land with balloons tied to his house!

To a young child (and even for myself) these stories are all something to be considered plausible. Not "fairy tales", like the movies Disney used to make (now bringing it back with The Frog Princess, not sure how that will turn out), but stories that children(or older audiences) can relate to in some way.

Simply magnificent.

Until Next Time,

Lana